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  • From: ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)
  • To: b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: Re: Gen 10:21 Was Shem the eldest?
  • Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 18:23:48 +0000


On Sat 8 Jan 2000 , navillusbpi AT primus.com.au wrote:
> Please pardon my limited under standing of Hebrew but I truly do want a
> clearer understanding of the Hebrew text especially in view of the
> conflicting Hebrew translations on this phrase.

Dear Brian,

This is a Frequently Asked Question, as it happens. The Hebrew of v 21 is
ambiguous. 'a:XiY YaPeT HaGGaDoWL can be taken either way; see the NIV text
and margin.

It is clear that Ham is the youngest son of Noah (Genesis 9:24). The other
two, Shem and Japheth, are named in that order: Shem first. When the three
sons are named together, it is in the order Shem, Ham, Japheth (Genesis
5:32; 6:10; 7:13; 9:18; etc.).

It has been suggested (but I cannot track down the reference) that Ham was
the *second* son, but that because of the incident recorded in Genesis
9:22 he was demoted to B:NoW HaQQa+aN, i.e. smallest or least significant.
Then in Genesis 9:27 it says YaP:T: 'e:LoHiYM L:YePeT, God shall *enlarge*
Japheth (root P-T-H, in the Hiphil to make spacious, to open out, widen).
So Japheth who was the youngest (smallest) was "widened" or promoted above
Ham. It's a lovely pun on the name of Japheth YaP:T: 'e:LoHiYM L:YePeT of
course. ^^^^^^ ^^^^^

So I would recommend translating Genesis 10:21 "To Shem also, even he [who
was] the ancestor of all the children of Eber [and] the elder brother of
Japheth, were children born". Compare the Greek LXX:

KAI TWi SHM EGENNHQH KAI AUTWi PATRI PANTWN TWH hUIWN EBER, ADELFWi IAFEQ
TOU MEIZONOS. (Brenton)

Shalom
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
<ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm






  • Re: Gen 10:21 Was Shem the eldest?, Ben Crick, 01/08/2000

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